Page 66 of A Vow for the Vamp
It’s been four whole days and Teddy still hasn’t woken up.
I stand at the end of my bed, arms crossed, staring at him… willing him to be okay.
What if something’s wrong? What if I was too late?
“You know there’s a saying, ‘a watched pot never boils,’” Layla says, standing at the door of my room.
“He should be awake by now. Fledglings only need a full day’s sleep after the transformation.”
“Yes, but he’s a blood mate. He’s… magical.” Layla flashes her hands and wiggles her fingers.
I groan. “If only we knew more about thatmagic.”
I drop my arms and leave since I can’t telepathically will my sleeping beauty to wake.
“That’s actually why I’m here,” Layla says, following me as I shut the bedroom door and walk down the hallway. “Noran has arrived.”
“What? Now? It’s two hours until sunrise. And why the hell didn’t you lead with that?!”
In a millisecond, I’m in the living room where Noran stands at my bookcase, admiring my art and memorabilia collection.
He selects a book and turns, holding it up.
“A Shakespeare first edition,” he says, smiling. He opens the book to the first page. “And it’s signed with a personal message. ‘To Mildred, thank you for convincing me not to name my character after you. There can only be one Mildred in my life.’”
Noran is a slim man, with icy blue eyes and bleach blond hair pulled back into a low ponytail. His cheeks are sunken in, and his skin is sickly pale. He looks as if he will break at the slightest touch.
He’s impeccably dressed, a fitted black suit and shirt with a skinny red tie.
“Yes, well, Mildred Capuletdoesn’t have the same ring, now does it?”
I met William when I was newly turned. Less than one hundred years a vampire. Henry had taken me to a performance ofThe Taming of the Shrewand after the show,he disappeared with one of the actors. I loved the play so much, I tracked down Shakespeare himself to offer my accolades… and to make him my next meal. I considered killing him after taking his blood, but his talent was too good to let his life end.
We had a week’s long affair instead.
Noran chuckles. “I suppose you’re right.”
He puts the book back on the shelf.
“Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”
“Wine is fine.”
Noran and I sit in the armchairs while Layla grabs us drinks. The future queen of New York City shouldn’t be waiting on us, but she knows how eager I am to talk to this vampire.
“I hear you’ve found your blood mate.”
“I have. And where might yours be?”
Noran raises a brow at me. “He’s not in this city, which is full of blood thirsty supernaturals.”
Layla returns with our drinks. Noran takes his glass and casually sips on the bitter liquid.
“Your mate will always be desired by other supernaturals. His blood is infused with… something ethereal. We just don’t know what that ethereal component is exactlyor much about why someone is destined to be a vampire’s mate. Does he have a rare blood type?”
I nod.
“Then he was likely born with this… fate, but the older he got and the closer to meeting his match, the more potent the magic became. Was he ill when you met?”
